HEALTH AND SAFETY (OFFENCES) ACT 2008

Early day motion 619, tabled 28 January 2009 by Laura Moffatt (Labour). Signed by 48 members.

That this House notes that each of the 229 workplace deaths in 2008 was a personal tragedy and that the 299,000 injuries at work represent a wholly unacceptable toll; welcomes the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health event on 20 January 2009 to discuss the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 which received Royal Assent on 16 October 2008; recognises that the Act sends an important message to those who break the law, enabling sentences to be set at a level more commensurate with the severity of the offence and to deter those employers who may not otherwise take their health and safety management responsibilities seriously; and urges all hon. Members to support the Act, seeking to help prevent needless work-related injury, ill-health and death for employees and members of the public and to ensure that health and safety offences are treated as seriously as other breaches.

Signatures by party: Labour 38, Liberal Democrat 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.